U.S. patent number 5,528,998 [Application Number 08/154,259] was granted by the patent office on 1996-06-25 for lock box apparatus.
Invention is credited to Jerry R. Smith.
United States Patent |
5,528,998 |
Smith |
June 25, 1996 |
Lock box apparatus
Abstract
A lock box apparatus is adapted for mounting onto mounting
structure to secure a protected item thereto. The lock box
apparatus comprises an anchoring plate, a door, and a latching
assembly. The door is connected to the anchoring plate to provide a
housing which is fastened to the mounting structure. The housing
has an interior sized to receive the item to be protected. The door
is operative to move between a closed position and an open
position. In the closed position, the interior is enclosed thereby
preventing access to the protected item. In the open position, the
interior is exposed thereby permitting access to the protected
item. The latching assembly has a secured state and an unsecured
state. In the secured state, the door is locked onto the housing in
the closed position thereby preventing access to the protected
item. In the unsecured state, the door is movable between the
closed and open positions thereby allowing access to the protected
item. An exemplary embodiment of the lock box apparatus is adapted
for mounting onto a mounting structure for a license plate of a
motor vehicle to secure a key and for affixing the license plate
thereto. This exemplary embodiment can be mounted either over the
license plate to expose it in view of the general public or behind
the license plate to hide it from the view of the general
public.
Inventors: |
Smith; Jerry R. (Littleton,
CO) |
Family
ID: |
22550641 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/154,259 |
Filed: |
November 18, 1993 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
109/50; 109/29;
109/34; 109/45; 70/456R; 70/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
19/0005 (20130101); E05B 37/00 (20130101); E05B
37/12 (20130101); E05B 77/00 (20130101); Y10T
70/5031 (20150401); Y10T 70/8676 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
19/00 (20060101); E05B 37/00 (20060101); E05B
65/12 (20060101); E05B 37/12 (20060101); E05G
001/00 (); B65D 055/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;109/33,34,22-25,29,45,50-52,54 ;70/57,58,63,158-162,312,315,456R
;220/343,476,480 ;206/37.1,335 ;224/517,557 ;40/200-202,209 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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72332 |
|
Aug 1916 |
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AT |
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2037257 |
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Jul 1980 |
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GB |
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1249142 |
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Aug 1986 |
|
SU |
|
Primary Examiner: Meyers; Steven N.
Assistant Examiner: Dino; Suzanne L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Martin; Timothy J. Henson; Michael
R.
Claims
I claim:
1. A lock box apparatus adapted for mounting onto a mounting
structure to secure a protected item thereto, said mounting
structure having an installation hole adapted to receive a mounting
fastener in a matable relationship to retain the lock box apparatus
onto the mounting structure, the lock box apparatus comprising:
(a) an anchoring plate having an anchoring hole extending
therethrough and located such that the anchoring hole and the
installation hole can register with one another, the anchoring hole
sized and adapted to receive the mounting fastener so that, when
the installation hole and the anchoring hole register, the mounting
fastener can extend through said anchoring hole and into the
installation hole to install said anchoring plate onto the mounting
structure;
(b) a door connected to said anchoring plate to provide a housing
having an interior sized to receive an item to be protected and the
mounting fastener, said door operative to move between a closed
position to enclosed said interior thereby preventing access to the
protected item and the mounting fastener and an opened position to
expose said interior thereby permitting access to the protected
item and the mounting fastener; and
(c) a latching assembly having a secured state whereby said door is
locked to said anchoring plate in a closed position thereby
preventing access to the protected item and the mounting fastener
within said interior of said housing and having an unsecured state
whereby said door is movable between the closed and opened
positions thereby allowing access to the protected item and the
mounting fastener within said interior of said housing, said
latching assembly including a frame structure having an internal
chamber which is sized to receive said protected item.
2. A lock box apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing
is elongated.
3. A lock box apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said housing
has a length in a range of 3.0 inches and 12.0 inches.
4. A lock box apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said housing
has a depth in a range of 0.25 inches and 1.5 inches.
5. A lock box apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said housing
has a height in a range of 0.75 inches and 2.0 inches.
6. A lock box apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said door is
detachable from said housing when said latching assembly is in an
unsecured state so that said door is movable between the closed
position and the opened position.
7. A lock box apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said door is
pivotally mounted to said housing.
8. A lock box apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said latching
assembly includes a latch member operative with an array of
rotatable locking elements so that when said array of locking
elements is rotated into a select combination of locking element
positions, said latch member is enabled to reciprocally slide
thereby enabling said latch assembly to move between the secured
state and the unsecured state and when said array of locking
elements is rotated into a random combination of locking element
positions different from said select combination of locking element
positions, said latch member is prevented from reciprocally sliding
thereby rendering said latch assembly in the secured state.
9. A lock box apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said latch
member includes at least one bolt element operative to extend into
matable engagement with at least one door bolt receiver when said
door is in the closed position to provide the secured state and to
retract from matable engagement with said door bolt receiver when
said door is in the closed position to provide the unsecured
state.
10. A lock box apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said latch
member includes a plurality of pawl elements operative in
cooperation with said array of locking elements so that when said
array of locking elements is rotated into a select combination of
locking element positions, each of said plurality of pawl elements
can be simultaneously received by a respective detent formed into
each locking element to enable said latch member to reciprocally
slide and when said array of locking elements is rotated into a
random combination of locking element positions different from said
select combination of locking element positions, said plurality of
pawl elements is immovable thereby preventing said latch member
from reciprocally sliding.
11. A lock box apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said
array of locking elements is a lock dial, said array of lock dials
rotatably connected to one of said housing and said door.
12. A lock box apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said
array of locking elements is a lock cylinder, said array of lock
cylinders rotatably mounted to one of said housing and said
door.
13. A lock box apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said
array of locking elements includes indicia to indicate one of the
select combination of locking element positions and the random
combination of locking element positions.
14. A lock box apparatus according to claim 1 including a frangible
ampule containing a defiling fluid, said ampule disposed within
said housing proximate to the protected item so that, upon
breaching security of said lock box apparatus, said ampule
fractures thereby releasing the defiling fluid onto the protected
item.
15. A lock box apparatus according to claim 1 whereby said housing
includes an upright sidewall disposed on one of said anchor plate
and said door.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lock box apparatus which is
adapted for mounting onto a mounting structure to secure a
protected item thereto. More particularly, the present invention is
directed to a lock box apparatus which is adapted for mounting onto
a motor vehicle's license plate mounts to secure a spare key. The
lock box apparatus of the present invention can be mounted either
over the license plate to expose the lock box apparatus in view of
the general public or behind the license plate to hide the lock box
apparatus from view of the general public.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Security has been a concern for people over the centuries. As early
as four thousand years ago, ancient Egyptians used wooden
pin-tumbler type locks to secure their doors. Even today,
practically everyone who lives in a residential dwelling and/or
operates a motor vehicle is concerned with the security of their
person and property. The residential dweller will often lock any
doors providing access into the house while away from his
unoccupied home or during sleep hours. A motorist typically locks
the doors on his vehicle when leaving it unattended in an unsecured
place. Sometimes a problem arises when the doors on either a home
or on a motor vehicle can be locked without using a key.
Unfortunately, these types of locking doors can potentially lock a
person out of his own home or vehicle if that person is not
presently carrying the appropriate key. For example, this may occur
when the motorist manually manipulates the locks on his car doors
into the locked state then inadvertently closes the locked doors
while leaving his keys in the ignition or passenger
compartment.
Locking oneself out of his own home or motor vehicle is often quite
frustrating, extremely inconvenient, time consuming and costly. One
option of gaining entry into a locked home or motor vehicle is to
break a window to provide access thereinto. Another option would be
to call a locksmith, if a telephone is readily available, so that
entry into the locked house or motor vehicle can be gained without
incurring costly damage. Nonetheless, the costs attendant to
persons who have inadvertently locked themselves out of their homes
and vehicles is surprisingly large. Figures reported by the
American Automobile Association indicate that it alone spent in
excess of $400 million during 1992 to assist motorists who had
locked themselves out of their own motor vehicles. This figure does
not include what was spent by other automobile clubs, police, and
private citizens and further relates only to automobile entry, not
homes or businesses.
To resolve this long standing problem of locking oneself out of
his/her motor vehicle, the most cautious motorist sometimes carries
a spare door key in a wallet or purse. Occasionally, the motorist
will place a door key in a metal or plastic container that has a
magnet which can secure the container to any metal portion of the
motor vehicle. However, while the motor vehicle is moving, any
jarring force or vibration could cause this container to fall off
of the vehicle. Another method of addressing the problem of locking
oneself out of his own vehicle is by using a keypad whereby the
motorist enters an appropriate code to electronically release the
locks. However, such a method is very costly and usually requires
the manufacturer to install this device at the factory while the
vehicle is being assembled.
To prevent locking oneself out of his home, the homeowner might
hide a spare key somewhere around the exterior of the home.
Sometimes, the homeowner simply forgets where this spare key is
hidden. On the other hand, it is possible that a burglar could
discover the whereabouts of this key to gain access into a locked
home. Hiding a key in a hollow plastic rock is a well-known
technique, which will not often fool a burglar.
Therefore, a long felt need exists to provide a convenient and
inexpensive way for a person who has locked himself out of his home
or vehicle to gain access thereto. The most convenient and simplest
way of satisfying this need is to provide a spare key to the person
locked out of his home or motor vehicle. It would be advantageous
if this key be can secured into a lock box which is fixably mounted
to the home or vehicle in order to prevent theft of the lock box
apparatus and key. It would be further advantageous that such a
lock box apparatus be sufficiently small so that it could be hidden
from view of the general public. The present invention is directed
to such a lock box.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and
useful lock box apparatus which is adapted for mounting onto a
mounting structure to secure a protected item such as a key
thereto.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lock
box apparatus which is adapted for mounting onto a mounting
structure for a license plate of a motor vehicle to secure a spare
key thereto. It is another object of the present invention to
provide a lock box apparatus which is sized to be mounted behind a
license plate of a motor vehicle and hidden from view of the
general public.
Yet another of the present invention is to provide a lock box
apparatus which can be mounted onto the license plate of the motor
vehicle and exposed for public viewing.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a
lock box apparatus which is relatively small for the purpose of
securing a small protected item therein.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lock
box apparatus which can also secure a frangible ampule containing a
defiling fluid so that upon breaching security of the lock box
apparatus, the ampule fractures and releases the defiling fluid
onto the protected item to deter its theft or use.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lock box
apparatus is described which is adapted for mounting onto a
mounting structure to secure a protected item thereto. The mounting
structure has an installation hole adapted to receive a fastener in
a matable relationship to retain the lock box apparatus onto the
mounting structure. In its broadest form, the lock box apparatus
comprises a housing, a door, and a latching assembly. The housing
has an interior sized to receive an item to be protected and a
fastener. The housing has at least one housing hole extending
therethrough and located such that the housing hole and the
installation can register with one another. The housing hole is
sized and adapted to receive the fastener so that, when the
installation hole and the housing hole register, the fastener can
extend through the housing hole and into the installation hole to
install the housing onto the mounting structure. Generally, the
housing is elongated. More specifically, it is preferable that the
housing has a length in a range of 7.6 centimeters (about 3.0
inches) and 30.5 centimeters (about 12.0 inches), a depth in a
range of 0.6 centimeters (about 0.25 inches) and 3.8 centimeters
(about 1.5 inches) and a height in a range of 1.9 centimeters
(about 0.75 inches) and 5.1 centimeters (about 2.0 inches).
The door is connected to the housing and is operative to move
between a closed position and an opened position. In the closed
position, the interior is enclosed thereby preventing access to the
protected item and the fastener. In the opened position, the
interior is exposed thereby permitting access to the protected item
in the fastener. The latching assembly is adapted to latch the door
to the housing. The latching assembly has a secured state and an
unsecured state. When the latching assembly is in the secured
state, the door is affixed onto the housing in the closed position
thereby preventing access to the protected item and the fastener
within the interior of the housing. When the latching assembly is
in an unsecured state, the door is moveable between the closed and
opened positions thereby allowing access to the protected item and
the fastener within the interior of the housing. The door is
detachable from the housing when the latching assembly is in an
unsecured state so that the door is moveable between the closed
position and the opened position. Alternatively, the door can be
pivotally mounted to the housing.
The latching assembly includes a latch member operative with an
array of rotatable locking elements. When the array of locking
elements is rotated into a select combination of locking element
positions, the latch member is enabled to reciprocally slide,
thereby enabling the latch assembly to move between the secured
state and the unsecured state. When the array of locking elements
are rotated into a random combination of locking positions
different from the select combinations of locking element
positions, the latch member is prevented from reciprocally sliding,
thereby rendering the latch assembly in the secured state. The
latch member includes at least one bolt element operative to extend
into matable engagement with at least one door bolt receiver when
the door is in the closed position to provide the secured state.
The bolt element is also operative to retract from matable
engagement with the door bolt receiver when the door is in the
closed position to provide the unsecured state. The latch member
includes a plurality of pawl elements operative in cooperation with
the array of locking elements. When the array of locking elements
is rotated into the select combination of locking element
positions, each of the plurality of pawl elements can be
simultaneously received by a respective detent formed into each
locking element to enable the latch member to reciprocally slide.
When the array of locking elements is rotated into a random
combination of locking element positions different from the select
combination of locking positions, the plurality of pawl elements is
immovable thereby preventing a latch member from reciprocally
sliding.
Each of the array of locking elements can be a conventional lock
dial whereby the array of lock dials are rotatably connected to
either the housing or the door. In the alternative, each of the
array of locking elements can be a conventional lock cylinder
whereby the array of lock cylinders are rotatably mounted to either
the housing or the door. Each of the array of locking elements
include indicia to indicate either the select combination of
locking element positions or the random combination of locking
element positions.
The lock box apparatus of the present invention can include a
frangible ampule which contains a defiling fluid. The ampule is
disposed within the housing proximate to the protected item so
that, upon breaching security of the lock box apparatus, the ampule
fractures thereby releasing the defiling fluid onto the protected
item to deter its theft or use.
Another embodiment of the lock box apparatus of the present
invention is adapted for mounting onto a mounting structure for a
license plate of a motor vehicle to secure a protected item, such
as a spare key, thereto. Typically, the license plate has a pair of
spaced-apart license holes which are disposed in a margin portion
of the license plate. The mounting structure has a pair of
spaced-apart installation holes adapted to register with the pair
of license plate holes and to matably receive a respective one of a
pair of mounting fasteners. This embodiment of the present
invention broadly comprises an elongated housing formed by an
anchoring plate and, a door and a latching assembly. The elongated
housing has an interior sized to receive the protected item, the
mounting fasteners and a pair of license plate fasteners. The
anchoring plate has a first pair of anchoring holes extending
therethrough which are adapted to receive the mounting fasteners so
that when the pair of installation holes and the anchoring holes
register with each other, each mounting fastener can extend through
registered ones of the installation holes and anchoring holes and
be fastened, thereby installing the housing onto the mounting
structure. The door is pivotally mounted to the anchoring plate and
is operative to move between the closed position and the opened
position.
The door has a pair of door holes extending therethrough and is
adapted to receive a respective one of the license plate fasteners
so that, when the pair of door holes and license plate holes
register with each other, each license plate fastener can extend
through registered ones of the door holes and license plate holes
and be fastened thereby affixing the license plate to the door. The
latching assembly is provided as described hereinabove.
Another embodiment of the lock box apparatus of the present
invention is adapted for mounting onto a mounting structure having
a flattened mounting surface. This embodiment of the lock box
apparatus comprises an elongated housing having an interior sized
to receive an item to be protected and at least one flattened
exterior surface located such that the housing can be mounted onto
the flattened mounting surface of the mounting structure by an
adhering element.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more
readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the
following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention when taken together with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lock box apparatus according to a
first exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown with its
door in a closed position and displaced from a mounting
structure;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially exploded lock box
apparatus of FIG. 1 shown with its door in an opened position and
displaced from the mounting structure;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lock box apparatus
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a front view in elevation of a latching assembly having
an array of rotatable locking elements partially broken away and
shown in an unsecured state;
FIG. 5 is a front view in elevation of a latching assembly having
an array of rotatable locking elements partially broken away and
shown in a secured state;
FIG. 6 is a front view in elevation of the lock box apparatus of
FIGS. 1-3 drawn in phantom to show it hidden from view of the
general public behind a conventional license plate of a motor
vehicle;
FIG. 7 is a front view in elevation of the lock box apparatus of
FIG. 6 shown partially exposed from being hidden behind the
conventional license plate of the motor vehicle;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view in cross-section taken along lines
8--8 of the lock box apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and connected to the
license plate as shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view in cross-section of the lock box
apparatus of FIG. 8 shown with its door in the opened position;
FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the lock box apparatus of
the present invention shown smashed with a fractured ampule of
defiling fluid;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of
the lock box apparatus of the present invention disposed over the
license plate of the motor vehicle shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and
exposed in view to the general public;
FIG. 12 is a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention
adapted for mounting onto a support structure using a single
fastener; and
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of
the lock box apparatus of the present invention adapted for
mounting onto a mounting structure using an adhering element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
The present invention generally concerns a lock box apparatus which
is adapted for mounting onto a mounting structure to secure a
protected item thereto. The ensuing description of the exemplary
embodiments of a lock box apparatus of the present invention
specifically relates to a lock box apparatus adapted for mounting
onto a mounting structure such as one for a license plate of a
motor vehicle or a conventional door. One of ordinary skilled in
the art would appreciate, however, that the present invention has
other applications other than those described herein and can
protect other items, particularly those which are small. For
example, the protected item might be a ring or a rare coin and the
lock box apparatus might be mounted inside a drawer containing
clothing. The present invention is particularly useful where the
item or items to be protected are small and where it would be
desirable to mount the lock box apparatus to a mounting structure.
Furthermore, because the lock box apparatus is also small, it might
be desirable to hide the lock box apparatus among other items
associated with the mounting structure such as behind a bundle of
socks in a sock drawer. Generally, the broad form of the present
invention includes a housing, a door, and a lockable latching
assembly to secure the door to the housing in a secured state.
A first exemplary embodiment of a lock box apparatus 10 according
to the present invention is generally shown in FIGS. 1-9. With
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, lock box apparatus 10 is adapted for
mounting onto a mounting structure 12 to secure a protected item 14
thereto. For purposes of example only, protected item 14 is a
conventional key. Mounting structure 12 has a pair of installation
holes 16 which are adapted to receive a respective mounting
fastener 18 (FIG. 2) in a matable relationship to retain lock box
apparatus 10 onto mounting structure 12.
Lock box apparatus 10 includes a housing 20 formed by an anchoring
plate 21 and a door 22 and a latching assembly 24 operably
connected to housing 20. Housing 20 has an interior 26 which is
sized to receive protected item 14 and fasteners 18. Anchoring
plate 21 has a pair of anchoring holes 28 which extend
therethrough. The pair of anchoring holes 28 of anchoring plate 21
are located such that respective ones of anchoring holes 28 and
installation holes 16 of mounting structure 12 can register with
one another. Anchoring holes 28 are sized and adapted to receive
fasteners 18 so that, when respective ones of installation holes 16
and anchoring holes 28 register, a respective one of fasteners 28
can extend through anchoring hole 28 and into installation hole 16
to install housing 20 onto mounting structure 12.
As best shown in FIG. 1, housing 20 is elongated and has a length
"L", a depth "D" and a height "H". Depending upon the specific
application for lock box apparatus 10 of the present invention, "L"
"D" and "H", can vary throughout a range of dimensions. However,
for the first exemplary embodiment of lock box apparatus 10 of the
present invention, it is preferable that housing 20 has a length
"L" in a range of 7.6 centimeters (about 3.0 inches) and 30.5
(about 12.0 inches); a depth "D" in a range of 0.6 centimeters
(about 0.25 inches) and 3.8 centimeters (about 1.5 inches); and a
height "H" in a range of 1.9 centimeters (about 0.75 inches) and
5.1 centimeters (about 2.0 inches).
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, housing 20 includes an anchoring
plate 21 and door 22 having an upright sidewall 32 which is rigidly
attached to and extends from a peripheral edge portion 34 of door
22. One of ordinary skilled in the art would appreciate that
sidewall 32 provides strength and rigidity to door 22. One of
ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that sidewall 32
could just as easily be disposed on anchoring plate 21 as opposed
to door 22 to define housing 20 having interior 26.
Door 22 is connected to anchoring plate 21 and is operative to move
between a closed position (FIG. 1) and an opened position (FIG. 2).
In the closed position, interior 26 is enclosed thereby preventing
access to protected item 14 and fasteners 18. In the opened
position, interior 26 is exposed thereby permitting access to
protected item 14 and fasteners 18. As shown in FIG. 3, door 22
includes a first pair of barrel elements 36, 38 and a second pair
of barrel elements 40, 42, all of which being axially aligned along
a longitudinal edge 43 of door 22. The first pair of barrel
elements 36, 38 are disposed at a proximal end 45 of door 22 and
the second pair of barrel elements 40, 42 are disposed at a distal
end 47 of door 22. Each pair of barrel elements 36, 38 and 40, 42
are positioned in spaced-apart relationship to define respective
openings 44, 46 therebetween. A pair of knuckle elements 48, 50
connected to anchoring plate 21 along an anchoring edge 51 of
anchoring plate 21 are axially aligned with one another. Knuckle
elements 48, 50 are disposed in manner such that respective ones of
openings 44, 46 receive a respective one of knuckle elements 48,
50. A respective one of a pair of pivot pins 52, 54 can then be
inserted through barrel elements 36, 38 and knuckle element 48 and
barrel elements 40, 42 and knuckle element 50 so that door 22 can
pivot between the closed position and the opened position shown in
FIGS. 1 an 2.
Door 22 includes a pair of door bolt receivers 56, 58, which are
described in more detail below, and a pair of spaced-apart slots
60, 62. Each of slots 60, 62 is sized to slidably receive a
respective one of a license plate fastener 63, 64. Each license
plate fastener 63, 64 includes a respective female portion 65, 66
which is adapted to receive a respective spring washer 68, 70 and a
respective male portion 72, 74.
As best shown in FIGS. 3-5 latching assembly 24 includes a latch
member 76, a frame structure 78, a support structure 80, an array
of locking elements 82 and a cover plate 84. This frame structure
78 is constructed to have an internal chamber 79 which is sized to
receive protected item 14 therein. Latching assembly 24 is adapted
to latch door 22 to anchoring plate 21 and has an unsecured state
as shown in FIG. 4 and a secured state as shown in FIG. 5. In the
unsecured state, door 22 is movable between the closed position
(FIG. 1) and opened position (FIG. 2) thereby allowing access to
protected item 14 and mounting fasteners 18 within interior 26 of
housing 20. In the secured state, door 22 is disposed onto
anchoring plate 21 in the closed position (FIG. 1) thereby
preventing access to protected item 14 and mounting fasteners 18
within interior 26 of housing 20. Latching assembly 24 also
includes latch member 76 which is operative with the array of
locking elements 82. When the array of locking elements 82 is
rotated into a select combination of locking element positions,
latch member 76 is enabled to reciprocally slide thereby enabling
latch assembly 24 to move between the secured state and the
unsecured state. As shown by way of example in FIG. 4, the array of
locking elements 82 is rotated into the select combination of
locking element positions "L-A-C" thereby enabling latch member 76
to reciprocally slide. When the array of locking elements 82 is
rotated into a random combination of locking element positions
different from the select combinations of locking element
positions, latch member 76 is prevented from reciprocally sliding
thereby rendering latch assembly 24 in the secured state. As shown
by way of example in FIG. 5, the array of locking elements 82 is
rotated into a random combination of locking element positions
"0-T-Z" thereby preventing latch member 76 from reciprocally
sliding between the secured and unsecured states. Latch member 76
further includes a pair of bolt elements 86, 88 which are operative
to extend into matable engagement with a respected one of door bolt
receivers 56, 58 when door 22 is in the closed position (FIG. 1) to
provide the secured state as shown in FIG. 5. The pair of bolt
elements 86, 88 are operative to retract from matable engagement
with respective ones of door bolt receivers 56, 58 when door 22 is
in the closed position to provide the unsecured state as shown in
FIG. 4. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that a
single bolt element operative with a single door bolt receiver
would be sufficient to provide the secured and unsecured states
described above.
With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, latch member 76 includes a
plurality of pawl elements 90 which are operative in cooperation
with the array of locking elements 82. When the array of locking
elements 82 is rotated in the select combination of locking element
positions, as shown by "L-A-C" of FIG. 4, each of pawl elements 90
can be simultaneously received by a respective detent 92 formed
into each locking element 82 to enable latch member 76 to
reciprocally slide by manual movement of ribbed head 77 which is
accessible as shown in FIG. 1. When the array of locking elements
is rotated into the random combination of locking element
positions, as shown for example by "0-T-Z" of FIG. 5, which is
different from the select combinations of locking element positions
"L-A-C" of FIG. 4, the plurality of pawl elements 90 is immovable
thereby preventing latch member 76 from reciprocally sliding. For
purposes of the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, each of the array of locking elements 82 is a
conventional lock dial being rotatably connected to either
anchoring plate 21 or door 22. Further, each of the array of
locking elements 82 includes indicia to indicate whether the array
of locking elements 82 are either in the select combination of
locking element positions such as "L-A-C" of FIG. 4 or the random
combination of locking element positions such as "0-T-Z" of FIG. 5.
For purposes of the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, alphabetical indicia has been selected although
numerical or alphanumerical indicia could also have been used.
Operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the lock box
apparatus 10 is shown in FIGS. 6-9. Lock box apparatus 10 is
adapted for mounting onto mounting structure 12 for license plate
94; and license plate 94 is adapted to be affixed to lock box
apparatus 10. License plate 94 has a pair of spaced-apart license
plate holes 96 disposed in a margin portion 98 of license plate 94.
As described above, mounting structure 12 has a pair of
spaced-apart installation holes 16 adapted to matably receive a
respective one of the pair of mounting fasteners 18. Housing 22
shown elongated has interior 26 sized to receive protected item 14,
mounting fasteners 18 and a pair of license plate fasteners 63, 64.
The pair of anchoring holes 28 are adapted to receive a respective
one of mounting fasteners 18 so that when the pairs of installation
holes 16 and anchoring holes 28 register with each other, each
mounting fastener 18 can extend through registered ones of the
installation holes 16 and anchoring holes 28 and be fastened
thereby mounting housing 20 onto mounting structure 12.
Door 22 is pivotally mounted to anchoring plate 21 and is operative
to move between the closed position (FIG. 8) and the opened
position (FIG. 9). In the closed position, interior 26 is enclosed
thereby preventing access to protected item 14 and mounting
fasteners 18. In the opened position, interior 26 is exposed
thereby permitting access to protected item 14 and mounting
fasteners 16. Door 22 has a pair of door holes 60, 62 extending
therethrough. The pair of door holes 60, 62 shown as slots are
adapted to receive a respective one of license plate fasteners 63,
64 so that, when the pair of door holes 60, 62 and license plate
holes 96 register with each other, license plate fasteners 63, 64
can extend through registered ones of door holes 60, 62 and license
plate holes 96 and be fastened thereby affixing license plate 94 to
door 22. License plate fasteners 63, 64 are fastened when female
portions 65, 66 matably receive a respective one of male portions
72, 74 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
Although not by way of limitation, the pair of door holes 60, 62
are slots so that license plate fasteners 63, 64 and license plate
94 are movable relative to door 22 between a first position (FIGS.
6 and 8) hiding lock box apparatus 10 behind license plate 94 and a
second position (FIGS. 7 and 9) partially exposing lock box
apparatus 10 from behind license plate 94. While behind license
plate 94 in the first position, lock box apparatus 10 is hidden
from view of the general public. While behind license plate 94 in
the second position, lock box apparatus 10 is partially exposed in
view of the general public. Disposing a respective spring washer
68, 70 between license plate 94 and license plate fasteners 63, 64
provides a sufficient resilient frictional force between license
plate 94 and door 22 so that license plate 94 could be retained in
the first and second positions or anywhere therebetween.
Some vehicle manufacturers provide the motorist with a pair of
keys. Typically, one key is for the ignition and the other key is
for both the door locks and the trunk lock. To best utilize the
lock box apparatus 10 of the present invention, it is intended that
the door/trunk key be the protected item within lock box apparatus
10. Then, the ignition key can be hidden in either the passenger
compartment or the trunk if needed when the motorist is locked out
of his vehicle. Other vehicle manufacturers provide only a single
key for ignition, door locks and trunk. This could be inviting to a
car thief having this information. It is then recommended that a
frangible ampule 100 containing a defiling fluid 102 be disposed
within housing 20 proximate protected item 14 so that, upon
breaching security of lock box apparatus 10, frangible ampule 100
fractures thereby releasing the defiling fluid 102 onto the
protected item. For example, smashing lock box apparatus 10 as
shown in FIG. 10 also fractures ampule 100 which, in turn, releases
defiling fluid 102 onto protected item 14. An odoriferous fluid,
glue or acid are examples of defiling fluids which might deter
criminal actions of a car thief. Moreover, it may be desirable that
the key be constructed of a plastic material and defiling fluid 102
be a fast acting solvent which can quickly destroy the operability
of the key.
From the detailed description above, a skilled artisan would
comprehend that the first exemplary embodiment of lock box
apparatus 10 could be affixed to license plate holes located in a
bottom margin portion of the license plate. Inverting lock box
apparatus 10 would facilitate its use in this manner.
A second exemplary embodiment of a lock box apparatus 210 is shown
in FIG. 11. Likewise, the second exemplary embodiment of the lock
box apparatus 210 comprises a housing 220, a door 222 and a
latching assembly 224. It is intended that the second exemplary
embodiment be connected over license plate 94 such that it is fully
exposed into view of the general public. For the second exemplary
embodiment of lock box apparatus 210, door 222 is completely
detachable from housing 220. One of ordinary skill in the art would
appreciate that a conventional latching assembly 224 of this second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a conventional
latching assembly which includes a slidable bolt element 286, a
stationary bolt element 202 and an array of locking elements 282.
The array of locking elements 282 are conventional lock cylinders
and are rotatably mounted to door 222 although the array of lock
cylinders 282 could be mounted to housing 220.
A third exemplary embodiment of a lock box apparatus 310 of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 12 and comprises a housing 320,
a door 322 and a latching assembly 324. Mounting structure 312 has
an installation hole 316 adapted to receive a mounting fastener 318
in a matable relationship to retain lock box apparatus 310 onto
mounting structure 312. It follows then that housing 320 has one
housing hole 328 extending therethrough and located such that
mounting fastener 318 can extend through housing hole 328 and into
installation hole 316 to install housing 320 onto mounting
structure 312. Mounting structure 312 could be a conventional door,
a wall or another structure.
A fourth exemplary embodiment of a lock box apparatus 410 of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 13 and comprises a housing 420,
a door 422 and a latching assembly 424. Mounting structure 412 has
a flattened mounting surface 413. Housing 420 has a flattened
exterior surface 421 located such that housing 420 can be mounted
onto flattened mounting surface 413 of mounting structure 412 by an
adhering element 404. Adhering element 404 can be an adhesive,
two-sided tape, hook and loop fasteners, a magnet, a suction cup or
some other element capable of affixing housing 420 onto flattened
mounting surface 413 of mounting structure 412.
Thus, the lock box apparatus of the present invention satisfies the
need to provide a convenient and inexpensive way for a person who
has locked himself out of his home or vehicle to gain access
thereto. The lock box apparatus is sized to be hidden either behind
a license plate of a motor vehicle, among items in a drawer or on
an inconspicuous place on a door or wall. In the alternative, it
can be mounted over the license plate of the vehicle and exposed
for public viewing Since the lock box apparatus is designed to
protect small items such as keys, the lock box itself is relatively
small. Where further security may be required, a frangible ampule
containing a defiling fluid may be placed proximate the protected
item so that if security is breached, the ampule fractures to
contaminate the protected item.
Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some
degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of
the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the
present invention is defined by the following claims construed in
light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made
to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without
departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.
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